Let alone it is not that expensive. Any thing that is in mass production must be cheap. Using AMD, or G5 at that time does make much different. Getting discount from Apple make it cheaper, why not? We all know about how cluster computer can do and cannot do, you don't have to tell me. As for Chinese supercomputer development, to be honest, I don't care. China maybe a serious player, but 30 years from now, who knows what will happen. Same comments had been made years ago about Japan and how it would suppress the US, in some areas, yes, in general, no. Perhaps one day China will replace the Japan, or even the US, it won't be in your life time.